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Description Concluding the trilogy on geological materials in construction, this authoritative volume reviews many uses of clays, ranging from simple fills to sophisticated products. Comprehensive and international coverage is achieved by an expert team, including geologists, engineers and architects. Packed with information prepared for a wide readership, this unique handbook is also copiously illustrated. The volume is dedicated to the memory of Professor Sir Alec Skempton. Various definitions of 'clay' are explored. Clay mineralogy is described, plus the geological formation of clay deposits and their fundamental materials properties. World and British clay deposits are reviewed and explained. New compositional data are provided for clay formations throughout the stratigraphic column. Investigative techniques and interpretation are considered, ranging from site exploration to laboratory assessment of composition and engineering performance. Major civil engineering applications are addressed, including earthworks, earthmoving and specialized roles utilizing clays. Traditional earthen building is included and shown to dominate construction in places. Clay-based construction materials are detailed, including bricks, ceramics and cements. The volume also includes a comprehensive glossary.

Contents Foreword • Editors' note • Members of the Working Party • Acknowledgements • Preface • List of symbols and units • Introduction • The composition of clay materials • Formation and alteration of clay materials • Properties of clay materials, soils and mudrocks • World and European clay deposits • British clay stratigraphy • Exploration • Compositional and textural analysis of clay material • Laboratory testing • Earthworks • Earthmoving • Specialized applications • Earthen architecture • Brick and other ceramic products • Cement and related products • Appendix A: Mineralogical and chemical data • Appendix B: Properties data • Appendix C: Some World, European and UK clay deposits • Appendix D: Test methods for clay material • Glossary

Reviews

...this would be a good purchase for engineering geologists, geotechnical engineers, those in the extractive industries and even environmental scientists whose work lead them into EISs for freeways and quarries.  It is certainly a worthy companion for the earlier two volumes in the trilogy and a 'must buy' for applied geology bookworks.

This review was submitted by:
Greg McNally, St Leonards, NSW. TAG December 2007
24 June 2008

How should one review a book? Dip into it in the way a reader or user might, or simply work through from the beginning to the end?  Well, I did both with this book, and I'm pleased that I did.

My first forays involved attempting to use the book to answer specific questions such as 'Where does clay come from?' 'How do I distinguish between smectite and montmorillonite?' 'What is this business of a critical state line?' and 'What clay can be used for brick making?' Never once was I let down-the answers are all in there. 

The book has been produced by the Clay Working Party of the Engineering Group of the Geological Society (a group some 20 strong), and lists in the acknowledgements the help of many dozens of other individuals and organisations.  So it is therefore not surprising that the book's coverage is so broad and complete, but it becomes all the more remarkable that it reads so well and is a joy to use.  The editors have assembled here a volume that will doubtless come to be regarded as a masterpiece, and they deserve to be highly congratulated for that.  .......If I found myself on a clay-based desert island, this could well be the one book I would want to have with me, it should certainly be in every geotechnical office that deals with clay materials.

This review was submitted by:
J.P. Harrison. Review featured in Geotechnique Journal
28 July 2008